Chapter 222: The Side

Chapter 222: The Side

As a Mortal, Bran naturally could not hear the distant prayers. He only wanted to enjoy his own happiness, see this World, discover its most primitive side, or show his own most primitive side…

Knowing they could not avoid it, the Dragon Riders sent out a welcoming party. They even played the friendship card and placed Aiman into the welcoming group. Bran did not mind meeting a friend and chatting about light topics. But the purpose was no longer pure, and everything became dull.

Aiman stood at the bow of the ship. From afar, he saw Bran sitting on a plank of wood, drifting and swaying with the ocean waves. A fish about the length of an arm lay between him and the Black Cat.

A faint smile appeared on his face, but soon the smile turned to horror. The ship’s hull cracked and shattered with an unpleasant creaking sound, eventually turning into a pile of rotten wood that threw the panicked Dragon Riders into the water.

Fortunately, the Dragon Riders who came out to welcome them wore light clothes and leather armor, and all were good swimmers. Holding onto planks of wood, rising and falling with the waves, they were not in immediate danger of Death.

Bran would not eat an untreated fresh fish. He thought Huahua might take a couple of bites, but Huahua was even pickier than him. This fish was trapped here, weakly opening and closing its gill covers, awaiting the judgment of fate.

Bran drifted unsteadily until he was right above Aiman, then said indifferently, “Long time no see.”

Aiman made a bitter face. “Bran, don’t be like this. Everything can be discussed.”

“Discuss what? That the wind and waves were too strong, and the ships were badly damaged?”

“They were just confused for a moment. Bran, don’t be like this. I came to welcome you. You can’t treat a friend like this.”

“Aiman, I always thought friends should reciprocate. When your father wanted to deal with me, I spared his life. When you all wanted to deal with me, I only killed those directly involved. I waited a long time but saw neither compensation nor apology from you, until I sent someone to demand it.

I shared knowledge with you, and you didn’t give much in return. Indeed, my intentions were not good, but you couldn’t refuse, because this deal still benefited you more than it harmed you.

From beginning to end, you have taken advantage. So why put on the act of a victim? Is it because the advantages taken were not enough?

Aiman, my former friend. I requested to visit here, but you sank the ships at the shore right in front of me. Out of courtesy, I did not stop it. I only stated my purpose again, and you refused again.

I have not mistreated you Dragon Riders, even though you once acted against me. I invited Eileen to be a guest in my home and turned a blind eye to her spying. Presumably, you already know about this too.

I always thought that as friends, if I conceded a little, there would be some reward in the end.”

Bran looked into the distance and sighed lightly. “I only killed a few people who deserved killing, but you all cannot forget it. But do you know? I have killed so many of the Demon Tribe, yet they respect me, worship me, and see me as a Deity.

I sat by the sea for three days, actually wanting to tell you—I am here.

Whether you are willing or not, you must submit to my power. Whether it is thinly disguised with false friendship, or unreasonably taken by force, the result will not change, just like now.

I still wanted to preserve this pretense, but you were unwilling.

Now you have your wish, but if you strip away this layer of false friendship, what do you have left?”

Aiman made one last struggle. “Don’t be like this, Bran. You know I cannot make decisions on many things.”

“If you cannot make decisions, then why did you come? To send you to your Death? If your people truly wish for that, then I don’t mind helping them.

I will not kill you. Here, life and death depend on your own decisions.”

Under Aiman’s despairing gaze, Bran drifted unsteadily away…

This day, the Dragon Riders were filled with despair. Bran smashed every ship he encountered along the way. The only bit of good news was that he only smashed a few old ships, and then disappeared from everyone’s sight again.

The Azure Wave Archipelago was scattered like stars. Some islands were suitable for living, while others were just rocks protruding from the water.

Bran came to search for Mana. So, as he moved forward, he gradually veered off course, away from the populated areas. He followed the Mana, and with the ocean currents, he arrived at a small, deserted island.

The ocean currents here formed a huge whirlpool. Underwater currents surged, creating one vortex after another. As he got closer to the deserted island, the current suddenly sped up, dragging the plank beneath him and hurling them toward the rocks on the shore. While in the air, Bran smoothly retracted the plank, then he and Huahua floated down onto the island.

It was a small island about a thousand meters in circumference. The environment was too harsh, not even a single seabird was in sight. Near the center of the island, low shrubs stubbornly took root. A few sluggish venom dragons lay curled up among them.

Bran’s arrival attracted their attention. Stimulated by that enormous Mana, they hesitantly began to move slowly. Finding a relatively flat spot, Bran and Huahua slowly sat down. The Mana around them gradually began to merge and intertwine with the surroundings.

Aiman was lucky. He was picked up by a ship halfway through his swim. No one expected Bran to suddenly turn hostile, which put them under great pressure.

Bran went missing, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Although it wasn’t easy for such a person to die, more speculation subtly pointed toward this outcome. They had to see the person alive or the body dead. With such a figure, they needed to be cautious. Any result required repeated confirmation.

People began to deduce Bran’s route of travel, starting from the location where he destroyed the last ship, analyzing and searching.

Bran was immersed in his own world, completely unaware that a group of people outside were searching for evidence of his Death. Recently, the most talked-about topic in the Azure Wave Archipelago was the Grand Sorcerer Bran, a prime example of someone courting Death by daring to drift on the sea with just a plank of wood. Although there were various signs—he seemed impervious to water and fire.

But this was the unpredictable ocean. Serves you right! Let you show off!